An unsightly 1970s office block in the north of Cambridge city centre will soon make way for modern student accommodation.

The City Council's Planning Committee approved plans to demolish Mount Pleasant House on Castle Street, replacing it with 243 en-suite rooms and 24 studios, despite worries over cycle routes and the new building's aesthetics.

The development has been designed by RHP Architects in collaboration with St Edmunds College, Cambridge, which hopes its students will have first pick of the accommodation.

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But the lodgings could be used by students from any of Cambridge's many institutions, especially during the summer holidays, according to Planning Officer Toby Williams.

He also said the main four-storey block will rise slightly lower than the current hexagonal office building.

No members of the public spoke at the meeting, but several councillors thought the proposed facade of the new build was 'monotonous'.

Cllr Tunnacliffe called it "monotonous", saying he couldn't see any imagination in the "very long facade", and Cllr Pippas said "it would be nice to replace Mount Pleasant House with something prettier".

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But Toby Williams argued that six bays created in the front of the building by "reveals" in the dark red brick, will make a huge difference, and aren't as obvious in the designs as they will be once built.

Councillor Lucy Nethsingha raised concerns over cycle access to the site. She said: "I cycle around that area of the city often and it is a nightmare.

"The air quality there is also very bad."

Planning Committee Chair Councillor John Hipkin was also worried "cyclists approaching the site from Huntingdon Road will find it difficult to access".